Gareth

Well what about me? I've been getting paid (badly on some occasions and not at all on others) to play other people's music since I was a school boy. I cut my teeth at The Kangaroo Klub in the late 80s, playing far too many Todd Terry records, loads of hip hop and a bit of soul and funk.

In the early nineties I was resident at the much loved Tattoo and one of the residents at The Citrus Club, which in hindsight, was the black sheep of the Balearic Network. During this time I was fortunate to play alongside the likes of Terry Farley, Slam, Craig Walsh, Rocky & Diesel and . This, as these things often do, led to a seven year stint as resident for the the Rhumba Club (I knew those Bottom Line records would finally come in handy), where I warmed up for the likes Darren Emerson, Andy Weatherall, Dave Seaman, Harri, Paul Wain, Jon Pleased Roger Sanchez and John Digweed (at his first Scottish gig, prog house fact fans!)

In early 1993 I started my own night with some like minded chums, we called it Truth, because we were young and idealistic and usually very stoned. Musically, it was the first party in Scotland devoted to the US house/garage sound coming out of New York/New Jersey and had a far reaching effect on the musical tastes of much of Edinburgh's club scene for the next decade or so. Even If I do say so myself.

Around this time I was offered a residency on Friday's at the Sub Club in Glasgow, where I some how lasted two years, and was fortunate enough to play alongside legends such as Kerri Chandler (His first ever Scottish gig, soulful housefact fans!), DJ Pierre and Lil' Louis. In amongst playing round the country at clubs such as Shindig, Middlesbrough Arena and Hard Times I also held down residencies at Colours in Edinburgh, Sankey's Soap in Manchester and Cream at The Arches in Glasgow, where I played alongside DJ Sneak (his first Scottish gig, jackin’ house fans!), Armand Van Helden, Doc Martin and DJ Pierre (again).

In 1999, thoroughly non-plussed with the state of the club scene in Edinburgh (with a couple of notable exceptions), I hooked up with some of the chums who nearly seven years earlier I’d promoted Truth with, to start a club called Ultragroove. A night based on the simple premise of ignoring sub-genres, in favour of just playing great house music, whether it be deep, soulful, jazzy, techy or even a bit of disco, when the moment was right. Granted, not that radical a concept now, but back then it really was a breath of fresh air. And obviously a good idea, judging by the numbers piling through the doors and the number of clubs round town that followed suit and opened up their music policy soon after.

Ultragroove lasted 3 years at La Belle Angle, with likes of Dennis Ferrer, Joey Negro, DJ Gregory, Onionz, Miguel Migs, Jerome Sydenham, Ashley Beedle, Clive Henry, Terry Farley, Pete Heller, Tedd Patterson, Jazzanova, Jon Cutler, Metro Area, Inland Knights, Raoul Bellmans joining myself, Colin Cook and Mikey Stirton for some of the best nights I've had in a night club. Our last night in that dear, dank, dark cellar saw Kerri Chandler return to play a four hour set - topped off by the man himself singing, playing keys and wishing us luck at our new home, Cabaret Voltaire. A week later La Belle Angele burned down. Kerri wasn’t in the UK at the time, so his alibi remains water tight.

Since 2003 Ultragroove has been firmly lodged in a twice monthly Saturday slot at Cabaret Voltaire. In this time we’ve had the pleasure of many guests from the La Belle era returning and DJs and acts such as Honey Dijon, Frank Tope, King Britt,Milton Jackson, Dimitri From Paris, Dave Taylor AKA Switch/Solid Groove (His first Scottish gig, fidgit house fans) ditto for Speaker Junk. In the last year or so the club has rocked to great sets from Justin Long, the inimitable Miss Honey Dijon, Spirit Catcher, Sugardaddy, DJ Deep, Claude Vonstroke, Justin Martin Crazy P, Jimpster, Dennis Ferrer, Derrick Carter, Deadset, Ben Watt, Joey Negro, Elektrons, Unambombers, Jesse Rose, Ame and Al Kent. All in all, ultragroove has stayed true to it's original open minded manifesto with with some aplomb. But then again, I would say that, wouldn't I.

As for me, nearly 19 years on I can still be found round town and occasionally round the world, playing other people’s music for money. In 2005, I was voted by Faith Fanzine as one of the 5 DJs that mattered most that year, the other four were, Loco Dice, X-Press2, Ricardo Villalobos and Quentin Harris (Nah, I haven’t heard of any of them either). This was particularly gratifying, as 6 years earlier it was a brilliant night on the dance floor at a Faith August Bank holiday party that was the catalyst for me to continue DJing, at a time when I was very close to jackin’ (excuse the pun) it all in .

Aside from DJing, I've dabbled in making my own music, even managing to sign a track to Junior Boys own, I’ve also tried my hand, and various editor's patience, working as a freelancer for The Face, Sleaze Nation, Muzik and currently review house records for M8, thanks to the all round good egg, Kevin McFarlane. If you'd like your music to be considered for review, I can be contacted at Garethatultragroove.co.uk or via Myspace.

Well,I think I’ve bored you enough with the world according to Gareth, so I’ll leave now and bid you good day. xx